Undetected metastatic melanoma in the colon.

Colonic melanoma is a rarely detected aetiology of small bowel obstruction. This is a case of a male in his 80s with a history of treated stage IIIA melanoma on his trunk 7 years prior who presented with small bowel obstruction. He underwent urgent surgical intervention, where a partial colectomy was performed.

Hidden Readmissions after Carotid Endarterectomy and Stenting.

Background: Historically, carotid procedures incur a readmission rate of approximately 6%; however, these studies are not nationally representative and are limited to tracking only the index hospitals. We sought to evaluate a nationally representative database for readmission rates (including different hospitals) after both carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) and determine risk factors for poor outcomes including postoperative mortality and myocardial infarction.

Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis utilizing the 2010-2014 Nationwide Readmissions Database to query patients aged >18 years undergoing CEA or CAS.

Readmission and reinjury patterns in pediatric assault victims.

Introduction: Repeated pediatric assault should be a never event. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the readmission and reinjury patterns in pediatric victims of assault including readmissions to different hospitals across the US.

Methods: The 2010-2014 Nationwide Readmissions Database was queried for all nonelective admissions for patients under the age of 18 years.

Readmissions to an alternate hospital in patients undergoing vascular intervention for claudication and critical limb ischemia associated with significantly higher mortality.

Background: Hospital readmissions with 30 days after vascular surgical interventions have been associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and cost. Readmission rates, now a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services quality measure, have been studied in databases that have excluded certain payer types and states and have not accounted for readmission to a hospital different from that of the index admission. More accurate and nationally representative data are needed, because this fragmentation of care could lead to flawed conclusions.

Nationally Representative Readmission Factors Associated with Endovascular versus Open Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

Background: Hospital readmissions are tied to financial penalties and thus significantly influence health-care policy. Many current studies on readmissions lack national representation by not tracking readmissions across hospitals. The recently released Nationwide Readmission Database is one of the most comprehensive national sources of readmission data available, making it an invaluable resource to understand this critically important health policy issue.

Nationally Representative Readmission Factors in Patients with Claudication and Critical Limb Ischemia.

Background: Hospital readmissions are associated not only with increased mortality, morbidity, and costs but also, with current health-care reform, tied to significant financial and administrative penalties. Some studies show that patients undergoing vascular surgery may have higher than average readmission rates. The recently released Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD) is the most comprehensive national source of readmission data, gathering discharge information from 22 geographically dispersed states, accounting for 51.